The Nigerian Film Corporation (NFC), the federal government agency saddled with the responsibility of managing Nigeria’s audio-visual refutes the allegation of being the beneficiary of an $800million USD garnishee award against the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA). NFC’s attention was drawn to an Opera News online publication dated September 13, 2023, attributing the story to a reporter of Thisday Newspaper publication.
The NFC, in the statement issued on Wednesday, September 13, 2023 in Jos, the Plateau State capital, by Brian Etuk – Director of Public Affairs said the Corporation disclaimed that it was the initiator and subsequent beneficiary of the garnishee order as a result of breach in contractual obligations between her and the FCTA. “There has never been any breach of legal obligations between the NFC and the FCTA, let alone a garnishee award in her favour against the FCTA, Etuk said.
He also maintained that the NFC has neither sued nor obtained any court judgement against the FCTA. “It is therefore, unfortunate that the NFC was attributed to have been a beneficiary of the garnishee award,” the statement averred.
The statement stated that saddened by this unfortunate and unacceptable attributiin, the NFC has initiated appropriate action, to among others seek a retraction of it being the purported initiator and beneficiary of the garnishee award; which may include an unreserved public apology by ThisDay Publishers/newspaper/correspondent/reporter and Opera News online, given the grave injury caused by the said story.
Meanwhile, Dr. Chidia Maduekwe, NFC’s Managing Director/Chief Executive, who expressed NFC’s displeasure about the Corporation’s portrayal in the said story, has said that the NFC and FCTA enjoys a robust relationship and will continue to partner for the joint hosting of Zuma Film Festival, Nigeria’s national film festival which was consummated through a 10-year Memorandum of Understanding signed in 2021, and which also designated Abuja as the official host city. Dr. Maduekwe in the statement commended the FCTA for partnering with the NFC to jointly host the annual film festival, which has the capability to continuously upscale the promotion of creative ingenuity and film business opportunities available in Nigeria, with the sole objective of making Nigeria, through Abuja a film production destination hub in Africa.
The statement further quotes Dr. Maduekwe as saying that the first NFC – FCTA joint mounting of the film festival at the prestigious International Conference Centre, Abuja May, 2022, led to the policy pronouncement of a 35percent rebate as part of the needed film production incentives for both Nigerian and foreign Filmmakers who undertake to shoot within the Federal Capital Territory.
Meanwhile, preparations to host yet another impactful national film festival for year 2023 themed “Cultural Convergence” are ongoing. The Film festival will to take place December 1st – 10th, at the International Conference Centre, Abuja.
